What legal action is initiated when someone dies without a valid will?

When someone dies without a valid will, the legal action initiated is referred to as intestate proceedings. This process is necessary to determine how the deceased person's estate will be distributed according to state laws. In intestate cases, the court oversees the distribution of the deceased's assets to heirs as prescribed by intestacy laws, which typically follow a hierarchy based on familial relationships.

Intestate proceedings ensure that the deceased's wishes, as far as can be determined from surviving relatives and existing laws, are fulfilled. The court appoints an administrator to manage the estate and handle various tasks such as paying debts and distributing assets. This procedural framework is crucial, as it provides a legal structure for handling estates when no will exists to guide the distribution of assets.